Becoming a dad halves the level of testosterone in men, leaving them less likely to stray and more inclined to be a good parent
Starting a family not only affects your sleep pattern, purse strings and everyday lifestyle, it also causes your man’s testosterone levels to plummet, according to a recent study.
Alongside the sleepless nights and endless nappy changing, another big change that comes with being a parent for men is their sex hormone – or, lack of it.
American researchers from the Northwestern University found that fatherhood suppresses the production of testosterone, normally linked with libido and the hormone that drives them to find a mate, and brings out their fatherly instinct.
Going against the traditional notion that women are biologically programmed to care for their children, the study looked at 600 men over a 5 year period and found that those who became dads suffered the biggest dip in the testosterone – even bigger in those who become hands-on or stay-at-home fathers.
In contrary, the higher levels of testosterone a man has, the more likely he is to become a dad and it’s he who suffers the biggest hormone drop.
Are the declining levels of testosterone, usually associated with aggression and sexual prowess, nature’s way of the female securing their partner’s fidelity and fatherhood skills?
“To see dramatic changes in response to family life is intriguing,” says Dr. Allan Pacey, male sexual expert from Sheffield University. “The observations could make some evolutionary sense if we accept the idea that men with lower testosterone levels are more likely to be monogamous with their partner and care for children.”